Aged care providers say they need more funding to help them face the coronavirus pandemic, saying additional support so far of "an average of $2 per resident per day" is not enough to help keep them safe.
"The ability of many services to meet the needs of those they care for was already constrained due to major and prolonged financial pressures, long before the pandemic," they say in a statement.
"The rising costs of keeping residents safe from coronavirus is pushing us closer to breaking point."
Australia's death toll sits at 90 after a 12th resident of Sydney aged care home, Newmarch House, died on Wednesday.
Chiefs of Aged and Community Services Australia, Anglicare Australia, Baptist Care Australia, Leading Age Services Australia and UnitingCare Australia say government support so far equates to an average of $2 per resident per day which was "not enough to cover the costs of keeping people safe".
This included masks and protective equipment, cleaning and sanitation, paying casual staff who have to isolate and also being able to pay the backfilling staff, technology to maintain family connections, social distancing measures and processes to make visits to residents safe.
A security guard stands in the driveway as flowers are seen left at the entrance to Anglicare Newmarch House near Penrith. Source: AAP
Aged care homes have been facing anger from families, with many facilities not been allowing face-to-face visits.
"Our response to the pandemic has been directed by the national cabinet's guidance on visitor restrictions, with enhanced resident protections put in place by some facilities in response to local risk factors," they said.
"These decisions were not taken lightly and have been made with the sole intent to save lives."
Anglicare chief executive Grant Millard on Wednesday said Newmarch House was anticipating more deaths as the home runs as a "pseudo hospital".
About 80 residents are still living at the home near Penrith.
Twenty registered nurses, 25 carers, 11 cleaners and a GP are working daily at the nursing home where 34 residents and 22 staff members have tested positive to COVID-19.
Family members of residents of Anglicare's Newmarch House practice social distancing as they stand outside the aged care home in Kingswood, near Penrith. Source: AAP
Family members wrote to Mr Millard this week stating their calls have not been returned, details about loved ones have not been regularly divulged, and residents have reported inadequate care.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian acknowledged it was "distressing" that communication between relatives and residents and Anglicare was lax and urged the operator to lift its game.
"It's not acceptable to keep people in the dark. Just put yourself in the shoes of those people - it's horrific to be fearful about firstly, potentially losing a loved one but then not knowing what's going on and not being able to offer that care," she said.
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